Holster with internal guides

ABSTRACT

A holster including a receptacle for housing therein a weapon, the receptacle including at least one guide on an internal surface thereof and also including a tactical volume adapted for receiving therein a tactical accessory mounted on the weapon, the at least one guide being adapted to guide the weapon along a predefined path into the receptacle, such that when the weapon is in the receptacle, the tactical accessory mounted on the weapon is received in the tactical volume.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to holsters for weapons, and particularly to a holster with internal guides, such as a male guide (e.g., rail) or female guide (e.g., channel or groove).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many holsters are known for carrying weapons therein. In the past, it was not possible to place a weapon in the holster with an accessory attached to the weapon. For example, if the weapon were provided with rails (such as Picatinny or Weaver rails) for accepting a tactical light, the light had to have been removed before holstering the weapon in the holster.

Recently, some manufacturers have developed various holsters that permit holstering the weapon with the accessory still attached to the weapon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved holster that permits holstering the weapon with an accessory attached to the weapon, as is described in detail further hereinbelow.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a holster including a receptacle for housing therein a weapon, the receptacle including at least one guide on an internal surface thereof and also including a tactical volume adapted for receiving therein a tactical accessory mounted on the weapon, the at least one guide being adapted to guide the weapon along a predefined path into the receptacle, such that when the weapon is in the receptacle, the tactical accessory mounted on the weapon is received in the tactical volume. The guide may be a male guide (e.g., rail) or female guide (e.g., channel or groove).

The holster can include one or more of the following features. For example, the at least one guide may be positioned such that when the weapon is slid thereagainst, the at least one guide contacts an upper portion of a slide of the weapon. The at least one guide may be positioned such that when the weapon is slid thereagainst, the at least one guide contacts a corresponding guide member formed in a slide of the weapon. For example, if the at least one guide is a male guide (e.g., rail), then the corresponding guide member formed in the slide may be a channel or groove. Conversely, if the at least one guide is a female guide, then the corresponding guide member formed in the slide may be a rail.

A stopper may be disposed in the holster and positioned such that when the weapon is received in the receptacle, the stopper is received in an exit port of a barrel of the weapon.

There is also provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a holster and weapon assembly including a weapon, and a receptacle for housing therein the weapon, the receptacle including at least one guide on an internal surface thereof and also including a tactical volume adapted for receiving therein a tactical accessory mounted on the weapon, the at least one guide being adapted to guide the weapon along a predefined path into the receptacle, such that when the weapon is in the receptacle, the tactical accessory mounted on the weapon is received in the tactical volume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a weapon (handgun) with grooves (guide members) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified partially cutaway illustration of a holster with an internal guide (rail) that corresponds to the grooves of the weapon of FIG. 1, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a simplified illustration of the weapon of FIG. 1 holstered in the holster of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a simplified side-view illustration of the internal guide of the holster mated with the corresponding guide member of the weapon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a weapon (handgun) 10, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Weapon 10 may be any conventional handgun, for example, including a grip (magazine well) 12 for a magazine 14, a trigger 16, a receiver 17, a barrel 18 and a slide 20, with front and rear sights 22 and 24. A tactical accessory 25, such as a tactical light, may be mounted on the weapon 10, such as on a tactical rail 23 formed on receiver 17 underneath barrel 18 (such as a Picatinny rail) or on a side of receiver 17 near barrel 18 (such as a Weaver rail).

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, one or more guide members 26 may be formed on a portion of the weapon 10, such as on the slide 20 from a muzzle end 27 extending to an ejection port 28. The guide members 26 may be discrete, that is, a plurality of individual guide members separated from one another. Alternatively, the guide members 26 may be one continuous elongate guide member. The guide members 26 may be female (e.g., grooves, channels or furrows and the like) or male (e.g., dimples or rails) formed on the weapon 10.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which illustrates a holster 30, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Holster 30 may be made of any suitable holster material, such as plastic, polymer or leather. Holster 30 may include a receptacle 32 for housing therein weapon 10. The receptacle 32 may include one or more guides 34 on an internal surface 36 thereof. Guide 34 may be male (e.g., dimples or rails), in which case the corresponding guide members 26 are female, or female (e.g., grooves, channels or furrows and the like), in which case the corresponding guide members 26 are male. Guide 34 may be a plurality of discrete guides separated from one another, or one long continuous guide, for example. Guide 34 may be molded as one piece with the rest of holster 30 or may be attached thereto.

As another example, guide 34 may comprise one or more spring-loaded ball bearings, and the corresponding guide members 26 may be grooves or channels. As the weapon 10 is slid in holster 30, the ball bearings slide in guide members 26. Guide member 26 may be one long continuous guide, wherein the guide 34 “clicks” into the end of the guide member 26 when the weapon 10 is fully inserted in holster 30. Alternatively, guide member 26 may be a series of individual, discrete channels, and again the guide 34 may click into them as the weapon 10 is inserted in holster 30.

The receptacle 32 may also include a tactical volume 38 adapted for receiving therein tactical accessory 25 mounted on weapon 10. Guide 34 is adapted to guide the weapon 10 along a predefined path (e.g., along the surface of guide 34) into the receptacle 32, such that when the weapon 10 is in receptacle 34, the tactical accessory 25 mounted on weapon 10 is received in tactical volume 38, as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, it is seen that the area of the trigger 16 may be protected externally by a trigger guard 40 of holster 30.

Guide 34 may be positioned such that when weapon 10 is slid thereagainst, guide member 26 slides in or over guide 34. Alternatively, guide 34 may be positioned such that when the weapon 10 is slid thereagainst, guide 34 contacts an upper portion of slide 20.

A stopper 42 may be disposed in holster 30, for example, shaped like a bullet. The stopper 42 may be positioned such that when weapon 10 is received in receptacle 32 (FIG. 3), stopper 42 is received inside barrel 18 of weapon 10, thereby ensuring good positioning of the weapon 10 in the holster 30.

Referring again to FIG. 2, as another option, electrical (plus/minus) contacts 46 may be provided in holster 30. These may be useful in establishing electrical contact with corresponding electrical contacts in weapon 10 for the purpose of supplying electrical power to batteries or other electrical accessories that may be found in weapon 10. In such an embodiment, when weapon 10 is received in holster 30, electrical connection may be established via contacts 46 between a charger (not shown) and batteries or other electrical accessories that may be found in weapon 10 for recharging purposes, for example.

It is appreciated that various features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the contexts of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A holster comprising: a receptacle for housing therein a weapon, said receptacle comprising at least one guide on an internal surface thereof and also comprising a tactical volume adapted for receiving therein a tactical accessory mounted on said weapon, said at least one guide being adapted to guide the weapon along a predefined path into said receptacle, such that when the weapon is in said receptacle, the tactical accessory mounted on said weapon is received in said tactical volume.
 2. The holster according to claim 1, wherein said at least one guide comprises a male guide that just out from an internal surface of said holster.
 3. The holster according to claim 1, wherein said at least one guide comprises a female guide not flush with an internal surface of said holster.
 4. The holster according to claim 1, wherein said at least one guide is positioned such that when the weapon is slid thereagainst, said at least one guide contacts an upper portion of a slide of said weapon.
 5. The holster according to claim 1, wherein said at least one guide is positioned such that when the weapon is slid thereagainst, said at least one guide contacts a corresponding guide member formed in a slide of said weapon.
 6. The holster according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper disposed in said holster and positioned such that when the weapon is received in said receptacle, said stopper is received inside the barrel of said weapon.
 7. The holster according to claim 1, wherein said at least one guide comprises one continuous guide.
 8. The holster according to claim 1, wherein said at least one guide comprises a plurality of discrete guides separated from one another.
 9. A holster and weapon assembly comprising: a weapon; and a receptacle for housing therein said weapon, said receptacle comprising at least one guide on an internal surface thereof and also comprising a tactical volume adapted for receiving therein a tactical accessory mounted on said weapon, said at least one guide being adapted to guide the weapon along a predefined path into said receptacle, such that when the weapon is in said receptacle, the tactical accessory mounted on said weapon is received in said tactical volume.
 10. The holster and weapon assembly according to claim 9, wherein said at least one guide is positioned such that when the weapon is slid thereagainst, said at least one guide contacts an upper portion of a slide of said weapon.
 11. The holster and weapon assembly according to claim 9, wherein said at least one guide comprises a male guide that just out from an internal surface of said holster.
 12. The holster and weapon assembly according to claim 9, wherein said at least one guide comprises a female guide not flush with an internal surface of said holster.
 13. The holster and weapon assembly according to claim 9, wherein said at least one guide is positioned such that when the weapon is slid thereagainst, said at least one guide contacts a corresponding guide member formed in a slide of said weapon.
 14. The holster and weapon assembly according to claim 9, further comprising a stopper disposed in said holster and positioned such that when the weapon is received in said receptacle, said stopper is received inside the barrel of said weapon.
 15. The holster and weapon assembly according to claim 9, wherein said at least one guide comprises one continuous guide.
 16. The holster and weapon assembly according to claim 9, wherein said at least one guide comprises a plurality of discrete guides separated from one another. 